Marine Science

• Coastal Carolina University has the largest undergraduate marine science program on the east coast.
• Department facilities include a lecture/laboratory complex, computer research labs and research vessels. The University owns part of Waties Island, a pristine barrier island used for course activities and student research and that houses the Burroughs & Chapin Center for Marine and Wetland Studies, where students and faculty work on a wide range of projects including coastal geology, environmental education and watershed/environmental quality.
• Internship opportunities are available at sites such as Ripley’s Aquarium, Huntington Beach State Park, Myrtle Beach State Park and other organizations across the nation.
• Off-site field courses for students include coral reef ecology held in Discovery Bay, Jamaica, and shark biology at the Bimini Biological Field Station in the Bahamas.
• Exchange programs provide an opportunity to spend a semester abroad at Deakin University in Australia or many other locations around the world.
• Students who are residents of Academic Common Market states and who are accepted as marine science majors may qualify for in-state tuition rates.

Marine Science majors are prepared for a variety of careers including: marine scientist for federal, state and local government and private industry; environmental educator with aquariums, schools, parks and tourism industry; teacher; scientific technician; aquaculturist; aquarist/trainer; and land-use resource planner.

Students will take introductory foundation courses in the sciences (including biology, calculus, chemistry, marine science, physics and statistics); upper-level courses in each of the main sub-disciplines of marine biology, marine chemistry, marine geology and physical oceanography; and upper-level elective courses in an area of emphasis. Examples of upper-level elective courses include: Biology of Marine Mammals, Environmental Ecotoxicology, Coastal Processes, Ecology of Coral Reefs and Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing.